URGENT HELP NEEDED - split screen window

[DesperateDan]

Hi, I know there have been many threads about fitting front windows in split screen travellers and I’ve read them all. (and the workshop manual)

I’m in desperate need of some help. Over the last 12 months I’ve been restoring a series 2 traveller with my soon to be father-in-law to use for my up and coming wedding in April. It was the car my fiancée remembers from her childhood and it’s been sat in pieces since ’97 waiting to be restored. We had the idea it would make a great wedding car and so we’ve spent almost all our weekends stripping and cleaning the chassis, making repairs, painting it, fitting the engine etc.

We’ve encountered lots of problems and still have a lot to do. Unfortunately at this point it looks like the car won’t make it to the wedding as we can’t get the front glass in. We tried yesterday following all the advice we could find online and the result was a lot of swearing, disappointment and a now scrap windscreen rubber.

Given the amount of work we’ve put into the car and the amount of time it’s taken to get this far my father-in-law, fiancée and myself would be devastated if the car didn’t make it to the wedding.

If anyone has experience of fitting the front windows to a split screen I’d be forever indebted if you could offer us some help. The car is in Nuneaton if anyone could drop by this weekend (‘d happily offer from petrol money if needed) or if you could call me/father-in-law with some advice/tips.

Thanks in advance, Dan

[mike1864]

Hi Dan

It's so fiddly, I wouldn't dream of attempting it myself. Even mobile so-called experts managed to break the new (laminated) glass on my Series II. And even when they'd fitted the replacements, the first time it rained, gallons of water leaked in.

But for my 1971 Traveller, I found a really good guy called John Crouch of Discovery Windscreens. He's an "old hand" and specialises in older vehicles. Not only did he get this single screen in OK, but he later came round and re-fitted the leaking split screen, pointing out where the previous bunch had gone wrong. Apparently the modern surrounds require sealant, as opposed to the original profiles/compound. He even got the trim back in properly, including the central clips. He was very reasonably priced, especially since he achieved in one hour what would have taken me (and friends) a day or two.

That said, he's based in Watford; so a bit out of your area. But Google him. Maybe you could bring it down the M1 with a temporary screen to save him the travel. I hasten to add my only connection to him is as a satisfied customer.

Good luck with the wedding. Maybe you should consider at the second best option of hiring a Traveller off the web or this forum.

Mike

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I also have a split screen traveller, do you know if the details of the car are on the Series 11 Traveller register of the cars that are left?


Regarding the screen, its a horrible job, I helped put one in today. Ive fitted about 6 now and it doesnt get any easier! Best advice I can offer is a dummy or cut down pillar to hold the 2 peices of glass together, fit the rubber to it and offer up from the inside of the car. You really need 2 people inside the car, one for each screen. Start at one side and gently ease the tiny edge over with a screw driver as you inside assistant keeps some pressure on it. Some lubricant does help it to slide a bit. Once you get the edge out all the way round remove the dummy pillar and fit the full length which will help pull the screen out and into place.

Use a good sealant such as arbomast auto grade which is non setting. Then walk away and leave it to form a skin. I find you need to file a little bit of the ends of the chrome trim as when you push them into place, the other side pushes it back out! The rubbers are very poor and you will most likely need small blobs of silicone to hold the trim to the rubber and then tape it down until the silicone sets.

Check out page 10 of stevies Resto where there ares some pics of how we did it then.
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... &start=180

[Keith]

There have been quite a few posts over the years on fitting split windscreens, David's is a good one (he has provided the link). There is a very recent post which is very good...

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=62964

[mike1864]

I might still have a cut down centre pillar you can borrow. PM me if interested.

[DesperateDan]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips, we're going to try it again next weekend (hope the weather will be better as there isn't much space in the garage)

Yes the car is on the register, I don't want to post any details at the moment though as its not my car. I'm sure when its finished the father-in-law won't mind showing it off!

Dan